Provincial’s Time
Fr. Cassidy is primarily in the office this week. March 8-9 he has CMSM meetings and then March 10-11 are meetings with the Provincial Council.
Please remember
NATALIE BUCKLEY, the sister of Fr. Bob Bossie, died on February 28. She had only recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. Natalie is survived by her husband, whom she was caring for (he had advanced Alzheimer’s), and their three sons. Funeral arrangements are pending but will be in Cincinnati.
FR. WILLEM HENDRIK SISTERMANS, a member of the Dutch-Flemish Confederation, who died on February 21. He was born in 1921, professed in 1941 and ordained in 1947.
Keep in prayer
FR. CHARLIE BISGROVE: he remains at St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee for treatment of a severe foot infection. This week he will have skin grafts on the affected area. “Ask the guys to continue to pray for me,” he said in an e-mail from his hospital room. “I have a LONG healing process ahead.” You can e-mail Fr. Charlie at: charlesbisgrove@rocketmail.com. As of Friday, his room at St. Luke’s was No. 4241; the phone: 385-4458.
FR. MICHAEL VAN DER PEET: following a stroke, Fr. Michael is doing intensive therapy at St. Luke’s Hospital. He continues to have paralysis on his right side as well as cognitive concerns but his spirit is very positive, reports Fr. Jim Brackin. Once discharged from St. Luke’s he will go to the Congregational Home in Brookfield for continued therapy.
BR. LARRY GAUTHIER: Br. Larry is still very weak, and continues to be treated for an infection; however, he is now out of the Intensive Care Unit. There is a possibility that he may return to the Congregational Home early this week.
FR. JOSEPH GOLE: the honorary SCJ had successful surgery last week to treat a fractured hip. He will most likely return to the Congregational Home early this week.
Want to say “hi?”
Barb Taylor, administrative assistant at the Provincialate Offices for many years before her retirement in 2007, has a new e-mail address. If you would like to say “hi” you can contact her at: barbarataylor30@charter.net
SHST seminarians help
Students at Sacred Heart School of Theology have become involved with Kiva, an online micro-lending organization serving the developing world.
Via the internet, Kiva allows people in affluent parts of the world to select individual entrepreneurs in developing counties who need capital. Their loans, ranging from $25 to $150, help entrepreneurs get started, grow, serve their communities and create jobs. Since launching in 2005, Kiva has attracted more than $20 million in loans from more than 100,000 people. Most supporters choose to keep their money in the Kiva system after their loans are repaid, funding additional projects. Finance companies in the loan recipients’ countries administer the loans.
Seminarians became interested in contributing to a micro-lending program after hearing about Kiva at a presentation put on by the SHST Justice and Peace Committee last year. Now the students lend to 16 individuals and groups.
If you would like to see who the SHST students are helping go to: http://www.kiva.org/lender/sacredheartschooloft8428
Record semester
Speaking of Sacred Heart School of Theology, the seminary set a record this year for January new student enrollment. With the new additions for the spring semester the total number of seminarians is right around 100.
Three of the new students come from new sponsors: the Diocese of Fairbanks, the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (or Pallottines), and the Benedictines of Marmion Abbey in Illinois. These additions bring the number of Sacred Heart sponsors to 38.
SCJ News on-line
The most recent SCJ News (now in color) went in the mail in February. To view a PDF of the issue click HERE.
Never knew
Many diocesan publications have been running profiles on local priests as a celebration of the Church’s “Year of the Priest.” Fr. Tim Gray was recently featured in the Mississippi Catholic. Among the factoids shared:
Fr. Tim’s favorite book is Violence Unveiled by Gil Bailie. His favorite class in high school was math and his favorite type of music is the blues. And if you happen to be with him on his 75th birthday Fr. Tim wrote that he would like to have eggplant parmigiana. His favorite saint? That’s an easy one –– St. Timothy!
Remembering those who built the province
As we have for the past several months we will continue to share a bit of information about deceased members of the province on or near the anniversary of their death. This week we remember Fr. Phil Robenalt, who died on March 7, 1978:
He was easy to like. His personality was much like his smile: warm, open and sincere. He was someone you felt at ease with. As you came to know him, you came to admire him.
This is how many SCJs, friends and co-workers spoke of Fr. Phil. He died of leukemia at 35.
Fr. Phil came from a large, close-knit, Midwestem Catholic family. He was bom August 4, 1943, and grew up in Lima, Ohio. A natural athlete, he excelled in sports.
After two years at Great Barrington and another in Ste. Marie, he professed his vows on September 8,1964.
After his first year of theology, he decided that he needed more time to discern his vocation, so he took a little over a year off and worked as a roofer in Washington, D.C. He then returned to the SCJs, completed his theological studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology and was ordained on November 28, 1974. He spent his four years as a priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe, East Chicago.
Before his death, Fr. Phil was asked to share his thoughts about his life as an SCJ: “Being an SCJ means getting involved in the needs and lives of people… but my ministry is also about taking the initiative and going out to others before they come to me or other priests with their problems. I think the main advantage and privilege for a priest is the chance to see how God works in people’s lives, especially in the sacrament of reconciliation. I feel so blessed in being with Christ as He draws people to Him in order to share with them His forgiveness and peace.”
